The door burst open with a loud crash and two men entered the small office. A man standing guard in the hallway grabbed the handle and closed the door behind them. In front of the two young men sat a man with a large mustache behind a wide desk. The number of badges pinned to his navy-blue jacket left no doubt about his importance.
It was a Monday morning when Alistaire and Sebastian were urgently summoned to Admiral Ashcombe's office.
They were usually contacted by the national navy to handle issues that couldn't be publicly addressed. However, as a private organization, Seraphy's army had quickly disapproved of the military leadership's decision to call upon them.
Sebastian and Alistaire had created a private military organization with the goal of protecting the powerless against the Singularity. Their power had grown steadily until they earned the trust of the king of Seraphy.
He then decided to call on them as a last resort. The Bell Cult gradually gained recognition within the national navy. But as their reputation grew, so did the envious stares.
Sebastian noticed two chairs already set out in the office for their arrival. The admiral gestured for them to sit. Anyone else might have accepted the offer, but Sebastian and Archibald had learned the hard way.
A meeting in an admiral's office was also a test of will. Sitting down would mean submitting and accepting the admiral's authority over them.
Sebastian politely declined the admiral's invitation with a hand gesture. The admiral's face tensed before he cleared his throat.
"Hum-hum, good morning."
Sebastian answered for both of them.
"Good morning, Admiral."
"I've brought you here to discuss a confidential matter."
He leaned under his desk and pulled out a thin folder from a drawer. He handed it to Sebastian, who stepped forward to take it. Inside was a detailed map of the neighboring empire—Uruk. Several locations were circled in red. The folder also contained several black-and-white photos of men and women.
"Our intelligence services obtained this information after several months of intensive investigation. The Empire of Uruk is preparing something major. Unfortunately, we can't intervene due to diplomatic treaties signed by our last ruler. That's where you come in."
He laid out several photos on his desk of men in their fifties. All were officers of Seraphy's army.
"These are the individuals we believe were either assassinated or abducted by Uruk's secret services."
Sebastian studied the file closely. Most of the circled locations were far apart with no apparent connection. Most of the abducted individuals were military technicians specializing in ether manipulation. Which strongly suggested Uruk was indeed preparing something.
He placed the folder back on the desk and looked the admiral straight in the eye.
"And what exactly do you expect from us?"
The admiral turned toward the office window.
"To resolve this matter without causing diplomatic waves."
"I'm sorry, Admiral, but it's been two years since we decided to step away—and now you summon us one day to ask for our help?"
"I know you didn't want to work for anyone anymore, but we truly need you. A cold war between Uruk and Seraphy would only bring destruction and famine to our nation."
Sebastian's expression, calm until now, hardened.
"Shall I remind you why we resigned? Shall I remind you what your armed forces did‽"
"My primary duty is to protect my country. And I—"
"Protect your country? Was she not an important enough citizen for you?"
Sebastian turned and headed for the door, Alistaire following behind.
"Sorry, Admiral, but we can't help you."
Just as Sebastian reached for the doorknob, the admiral pulled out another photo and placed it on his desk.
"Agents have spotted Alice multiple times…"
In an instant, the ether pressure in the small office became unbearable.
The admiral coughed and collapsed onto his desk.
His body no longer obeyed him.
The ether density in the room was so high that the clock on the wall stopped ticking.
Alistaire turned slowly.
The presumed photo of Alice lifted gently from the desk as if pulled by a magnet and then suddenly flew into Alistaire's hand.
Sebastian opened the door, and the pressure lifted.
The admiral gasped for air and coughed.
Sebastian turned toward the admiral, staring at him with his one eye, a smile on his face.
"Thank you for your cooperation."
Alistaire and Sebastian left the office.
***
The two men entered the garden of an old, ruined aristocratic mansion. They stepped over debris blocking the front doorway. Inside, a photo of a noble-looking lady sat on a piece of furniture. Melted candles were scattered around it.
Sebastian waved his hand as he passed, and the candles lit up.
"We're home, Mom."
Alistaire merely nodded toward the photo.
They walked into what was once the mansion's reception hall. The wind howled through the shattered windows, their tattered curtains fluttering.
Alistaire and Sebastian sat on the old, worn-out couch. Alistaire held the photo gently between his fingers.
"You think it's her?"
The photo was black and white, blurry. But the outline of the woman's silhouette left little room for doubt.
"Maybe…"
"Even if there's only the slightest chance it's her, we should go check."
"You really think it could be Alice?"
It had been 11 years since Sebastian lost his sister and parents. The only person he managed to save was his little brother. Hearing and seeing that there was a chance his presumed-dead sister might still be alive overwhelmed him. All he could think about was doing everything in his power to find her.
He remained silent.
"..."
"We're heading to Uruk then…"
***
[You are dead.]
The system message appeared clearly in the empty space before me. Everything around me was black; I was floating in the void of space. I looked down at my arms and legs, which were invisible. It felt as if I was a spirit with no physical form.
[The special attribute of the item 'Hahoe Mask' has been activated.]
[You've been granted an extra life.]